The Permanent Secretary (P.S.) Kogi State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Estate Surveyor and Valuer (ESV) Dr. Zainab Obadaki, has reiterated the need for the new administration of Governor Usman Ododo to look inward and exploit the abundant tourism potentials of the State for upwards revenue generation, stating that the ministry’s gold mines must be brought to limelight through adequate Government attention and involvement.
ESV. Dr. Obadaki made this statement while inspecting the Ministry’s Parastatals, including Kogi State Hotels and Tourism Board Office, situated in one of the Lord Lugard Senior Staff Quarters, the spot where Royal Niger Company (RNC) flag was lowered for the last time on Nigerian soil and the British Union Jack was hoisted on the 1st of January, 1900.
Other sites visited were the European Military Cemetery opposite Zenith Bank, the European and Missionary Cemetery behind Kogi Travellers, the Lugard Bank, the first safe in Northern Nigeria at the present Paparanda Square as well as the Kogi State Council for Arts and Culture.
Speaking at these sites, ESV Dr. Obadaki described the visitation as a holistic approach to getting to know the areas that should be restructured and be put in better shape as tourist sites for revenue generation
The P.S. instructed the Heads of Parastatals and Directors in the Ministry to present their challenges. She also used the opportunity to passionately appeal to the State Governor, His Excellency Alhaji Ahmed Ododo to harness the potentials embedded in culture and tourism in the State at large as well as attract tourists at the national and international levels so as to enable the Ministry to function properly.
Mr. Yinka Adeoye, who is the custodian of the Colonial Relics that have been in existence since 1900, said the sites need to be renovated to attract tourists for historical purposes and revenue generation.
In his remarks, the General Manager, Kogi State Hotels and Tourism Board, Mr. Shaibu Lawrence expressed his dissatisfaction with the defecation and dumping of refuse where the remains of the European Military Officers and Missionaries were interred adding that the cemetery needs to be properly cleaned at intervals expressing the need for the fence to be raised and the gates fixed to prevent intruders from gaining access, appealing to the Government to assist the Ministry to ensure that the needed efforts are put in place.
At the Council of Arts and Culture, the Director, Mrs. Owuda Wosilat, appreciated the Permanent Secretary for her visit, appealing for enough funds to execute their programmes with the view to generating more revenue to the State Government, especially the construction of a theater for the artists’ performances as well as renovation of some of their buildings .
The Permanent Secretary concluded by appealing to the Heads of Parastatals and Directors in the Ministry to be persistent in prayers, adding that all hands must be on the deck to ensure fruitful results.
Elizabeth Samuel,
Information Officer,
Ministry of Culture and Tourism.